Care England, the largest representative body for independent
adult social care providers, responds to the latest findings in
Skills for Care's State of the
Adult Social Care Sector and Workforce in England
2024 report.
Rising Workforce Numbers Mask a Crisis
According to the report, the adult social care sector saw a 4.2%
rise in the number of filled posts, reaching 1.705 million in
2023-2024. This growth represents an increase of 70,000 filled
positions over the last year. However, this seemingly positive
figure masks a far more worrying reality: vacancy rates remain
staggeringly high. Though vacancies have decreased from 153,000
to 131,000, they still account for 8.3% of the workforce, a rate
nearly three times higher than that in the wider economy. In
comparison, the NHS vacancy rate stands at a lower 6.9%, further
highlighting the unique recruitment pressures faced by adult
social care providers.
The high vacancy rate continues to exacerbate existing pressures
on frontline staff, who are frequently forced to manage excessive
workloads. Additionally, the ongoing recruitment struggles have
led to increased reliance on agency staff, which in turn inflates
costs and destabilises care provision. These structural issues
are compounded by a lack of long-term government strategy,
leaving providers in a precarious position.
Professor Martin Green OBE, CEO of Care England,
commented: "The report's headline figure of
more filled posts is welcome, but it does not tell the whole
story. An 8.3% vacancy rate is unsustainable, particularly when
compared to the wider economy and even the NHS. This is not just
a recruitment challenge - it's a systemic failure to build a
workforce that can meet the current and future demands of social
care. Without immediate intervention, we will continue to see a
workforce stretched beyond its limits, which will directly impact
the quality of care provided to some of the most vulnerable
people in our society."
Recruitment Struggles Intensify
The report further highlights that the recent increase in filled
posts has been heavily reliant on international recruitment.
However, this lifeline is being rapidly cut off due to the
changes in immigration policies which prohibited overseas care
workers from bringing dependents to the UK. Applications for
Health and Care Worker visas have plummeted by 81% from April to
June 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. Consequently, the
latest report reveals that the number of international recruits
entering the sector has fallen to just 8,000, nearly 70% lower
than the quarterly average from the previous year. This sharp
decline, driven by changes to immigration policy introduced by
the previous Government and upheld by the current one, is leading
to an unsustainable dependence on an increasingly limited
domestic workforce.
Tens of thousands of British workers have left the sector over
the past year, disillusioned by low wages, poor working
conditions, and a perceived lack of career progression. The
combination of reduced international recruitment and an exodus of
domestic workers leaves the sector in a precarious state, with
many care providers struggling to maintain minimum staffing
levels.
Importantly, the Government's decision to continue with the
current restrictions has further intensified the inequalities
between the health and social care sectors. While overseas carers
are not allowed to bringing dependents when migrating to the UK,
NHS staff and workers in other occupation codes continue to enjoy
the ability to bring dependents as normal. This stark disparity
not only hinders social care providers' ability to recruit and
retain much-needed international staff but also highlights the
unfair treatment of care workers compared to their NHS
counterparts. The sector is being unfairly burdened by
immigration restrictions that undermine the critical role care
workers play in supporting the health and well-being of some of
the country's most vulnerable people.
Professor Martin Green continued:
“We are facing a perfect storm. Domestic recruitment has
collapsed, and the government's immigration policy has choked off
the international recruitment pipeline, which has been vital in
propping up the sector. We cannot sustain this practice. What
makes the situation even more frustrating is the clear inequality
between the health and social care sectors. While NHS staff are
still able to bring their dependents when migrating to the UK,
care workers, who are just as essential, are denied this basic
right. This unfair treatment further erodes our ability to
attract international talent and deepens the crisis. Without a
meaningful strategy to improve pay and conditions to attract
domestic workers, coupled with a pragmatic approach to
immigration, we will be unable to meet the ever-growing demand
for care. The government must address this before the situation
becomes untenable.”
Economic Contribution and the Case for Investment
Despite these challenges, the State of the Sector report reveals
a significant increase in the economic contribution of the adult
social care sector, rising to £68.1 billion in 2023-2024 - an
impressive £8.1 billion more than the previous year. This
contribution highlights the sector's critical role in driving
broader economic growth, creating jobs, and supporting local
economies across the country. The report makes it clear that
social care is not just a public service but a cornerstone of the
UK economy, with a multiplier effect that extends far beyond the
sector itself.
Yet, this economic potential remains underutilised. With
appropriate government investment, social care could not only
address its workforce shortages but also contribute to long-term
savings in other parts of the public sector, particularly the
NHS. The lack of investment risks eroding this crucial economic
contribution, as the sector's ability to grow and thrive is
stifled by chronic underfunding and workforce instability.
Professor Green added: “The £68.1 billion contribution is not
just a statistic - it's a testament to the immense value that
adult social care brings to the entire country. Every pound
invested in social care multiplies, creating benefits not just
within the sector, but across multiple industries. If the
government fails to recognise this and continues to underfund
social care, we risk jeopardising this critical economic
contribution. The Treasury should see this as an opportunity;
investing in social care is investing in the stability and growth
of the UK economy, particularly at a time when every economic
lever needs to be pulled.”
A Call for Urgent Government Action
In response to these findings, Care England is urging the
government to act swiftly and decisively to provide immediate
support for the adult social care workforce:
- Reevaluate immigration policies that restrict overseas care
workers from bringing dependents, to support international
recruitment, address workforce shortages and ensure parity with
NHS staff who are permitted to bring dependents.
- Provide funding to align pay, working conditions, and
recruitment benefits of social care workers with those of NHS
staff to ensure fairness across the health and care sectors.
- Recognise the sector's growing billion economic contribution,
and increase investment to help social care grow, create jobs,
and reduce long-term public sector costs, particularly in the
NHS.
- Consolidate intended reforms for adult social care within a
fully funded, long-term workforce plan
The need for urgent action is further underscored by the
pressures facing the NHS. Delays in social care directly
contribute to NHS bed shortages and hospital discharge backlogs.
By addressing the social care workforce crisis, the government
can also alleviate pressure on the health system, reduce costs,
and improve outcomes for both patients and care recipients, as
identified by the Secretary of State for Health
and Social Care, and the Lord Darzi Report.
Professor Green concluded:
“We cannot overstate the urgency of the situation. Adult
social care is not a sector that can afford to be pushed to the
margins of policy. The government must prioritise the
sustainability of the workforce as part of its broader economic
and public health agenda. Without this, the consequences will be
dire; not just for social care, but for the NHS and the entire
economy. How many more reports, warnings, and crises will it take
for them to act? We are not just asking for support; we are
demanding it - because without it, the system will fail, and the
repercussions will be catastrophic.”
